Handle-fastener.



W. J. HIGGS. HANDLE FASTENER. APPLICATION IILED MAR. 1, 1911.

1 7 wfffigfdj I nventor y Attornevs Patented July 23, 1912. v

WALLACE J. HIGGS, F LEI-II, UTAH.

HANDLE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J uly 23,1912;

Application filed March 1, 1911. Serial No. 611,589.

' To all whom 'it may concern: V Be it known that I, WALLACE J. Hioos, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lehi, in the county of Utahand State of Utah, haoe invente'd'a new and useful Handle-Fastener, ofwhich the following'is a specification.

' This invention relates to implementsembodying a tool and a helve orhandle, such as picks, axes, hammers, and the like,'and this inventionhas for its object to provide a helve adapted to clamp the tool on theouter end thereof between apair of flanges and at the same time'distend' that portion of the helve fitting through the socket or holeof the tool, thereby locking the tool against longitudinal, transverseand revoluble motion, the locking means being controlled from the innerend of the helve.

To. the above ends, this invention is enibodied in the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein similarreference characters indicate similar parts, and

.- wherein Figure 1 is aside elevation ofthis device, parts broken away.Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof, with the tool re- 80moved. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the helve or handle, parts brokenaway. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modifiedwedge and the rodconnected thereto, showing the nut disengaged from the end of the rod.

85 Referring' in detail to the drawings, the letter T designates thetool proper, in this case the same being illustrated as a pick, havinthe usual tapering hole or socket theret rough of elli t-ical crosssection, the

40 hole or socket tapering from the inner side.

outward, or having the smaller end disposed inwardly.

The helve-or handle is designated by the letter H, the same-beingtubular and having 4 the ends thereof closed with the outer end thereofhaving an elliptical cross section I mergin into the intermediatetubular portion. he helve or handle H has an exterior fiange'5 at theouter end thereof and is provided with spaced pliable actuate wings 6beyond the said flange. 'These wings ,6 are passed through the hole ofthe tool from the smaller end to the larger end thereof, and are adaptedto readily pass throu h the smaller end of the tool. A wedge 8 oelliptical cross section fits between the wings 6 and has an externalflange l5 projecting from the outer end thereof. A rod 9 is passedlongitudinally through the handle or helve H and also passes through thewedge 8, the said rod having a square ornon-circular head 19 on theouter end thereof fitting into a socket in the outer end of the wedge 8of corresponding contour. The helve H is provided at its inner end withthe annularrabbet- 1'3- and a nut 11 is screwthreaded upon the inner endof the rod 9 and has an annular flange 1'2 projectingfrom the inner endthereof andfitting into the annular rabbet 13. Thehelve or handle 7 isconstructed ofsuitable metal to give the wings 6 a proper resiliency andto give the tubular portion of the handlea proper rigidity. Inuse, bytightening the nut 11 the rod 9 7 is. "drawn inwardly. thereby drawingthe wedge 8 between the wings 6 to spread the said wings within the holeof the tool to dis"- tend that portionof the helve fitting through the"tool, and at the same time the tool is clamped betweenthe flanges5andl5. In this manner the tool is firmly held upon the outer end of thehelve against longitudinal, lateral or revoluble motion, and the tool is7 not likely to become loosened as the same is 5 used. By unscrewing thenut 10 and removing same from the inner end of the rod, the rod 9 may bewithdrawn from the. handle together with the wedge 8, whereupon the toolmay ,be removed from the wings 6. In this manner the tool may be readilyattached and detached ,from the .helve, and the helve may be utilizedforva rious tools. By the provision of the means for distending thatportion of the helve passing through the tool and for clamping the toolbetween the flanges a substantial structure is provided.

The wedge as shown in Fig. 4 is not provided with the flange 15, thisform of wedge being adapted particularly for use in 'con- 'nection withtools'not requiring hard usage.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 4

In a device of the character described, the combination of a tool havingan elongated tapered hole therethrough, a handle-having an exteriorflange at its outer end and spaced pliable wings beyond the saidflangepassing through the hole in the tool from the smaller 11o end'to thelarger end, a wedge fitting between the said wings and having an outerflange, a rod connected to the said Wedge and passing through the handleto the inner end thereof, and a nut screw-threaded 0n the inner end ofthe rod and bearing against the inner end of the handle to distend thesaid Wings and to clamp the tool between the said flanges.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WALLACE J. HIGGS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD SOUTHWIOK, Vv'M. SOUTHWICK.

